Method and apparatus for dynamically creating and transmitting documents via facsmile equipment

Abstract

Computerized system for dynamically creating a document from a database responsive to input from a remote user and transmitting the document to the user's facsimile machine. When the user desires to access a remote database according to the present invention, that user calls the apparatus of the present invention and in response to a voice menu system creates queries to the database. The apparatus of the present invention can also handle queries created by computer programs on remote computer systems. After receipt of the user's request, the system processes the request into a dynamically created document which meets the user's specifications and automatically transmits the document to the user's facsimile machine. The system has complete flexibility and control over the textual and graphical characteristics of the created document to enhance the presentation and usefulness of the information to the user. A real estate sales support system constructed according to the principles of the present invention presents the user with a document comprising a listing of properties best meeting the user's needs and series of maps of varying scale enabling the user to locate the properties for inspection. Supporting the real estate sales support embodiment of the present invention is a methodology for geocoding listed properties with their respective latitudes and longitudes.

I claim: 
     
       1. A computer-based system for dynamically creating a document containing map information on real estate listings in response to a remote user's request and for transmitting the dynamically created document to the user via facsimile transmission, the computer-based system comprising: a) a programmed computer having memory;   b) a listings database containing real estate listings, each of said listings being defined in terms of geographic coordinates;   c) a mapping database containing alphanumeric map data which define map features in terms of geographic coordinates;   d) data communication means for receiving a remote user's request as a set of data elements defining search parameters for real estate listings in a specific geographic area;   e) comparison means for comparing said request with said listings stored in said listings database;   f) selection means for selecting ones of said listings which most closely approximate said user's request;   g) means for dynamically creating a document in a page description format which includes at least one map page using alphanumeric map data from the mapping database, said at least one map page providing map locator information specifically tailored to said selected ones of said listings;   h) format conversion means for converting the format of the dynamically created document from said page description format into a format suitable for facsimile transmission;   i) storage means for electronically storing said map page; and   j) facsimile transmission means for transmitting said converted document including said at least one map page via facsimile to the user.   
     
     
       2. The invention as in claim 1, wherein: a) the user's request is in the form of an electronic message that is generated and stored on a remote computer network; and   b) the computer-based system includes message accessing and retrieving means for periodically accessing the remote computer network and retrieving electronic messages corresponding to said user's request.   
     
     
       3. A method for dynamically creating a document containing map information on real estate listings in response to a remote user's electronic message request generated on a remote computer network and for transmitting the dynamically created document to the user via facsimile transmission, the method comprising the steps of: electronically maintaining a listings database containing real estate listings, each of said listings being defined in terms of geographic coordinates;   electronically maintaining a mapping database containing alphanumeric map data which define map features in terms of geographic coordinates;   periodically accessing and retrieving electronic messages generated by a user from a remote computer network, each electronic message containing a set of data elements defining the remote user's request for information on real estate listings in a specific geographic area;   comparing said request with said listings stored in said listings database;   selecting ones of said listings which most closely approximate said user's request;   dynamically creating a document in a page description format which includes at least one map page using alphanumeric map data from the mapping database, said at least one map page providing map locator information specifically tailored to said selected ones of said listings;   converting the format of the dynamically created document from said page description format into a format suitable for facsimile transmission;   electronically storing said map page; and   transmitting said converted document including said at least one map page via facsimile to the remote user.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, wherein said map page further includes a map point corresponding to a selected one of said listings, said map point correlating to a unique latitude and longitude, wherein said step of creating said map page further comprises the steps of: defining said map point as said selected one of said listings; and   centering said map page around said map point.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of centering said map page further comprises the step of: generating an internal window corresponding to, and smaller than, said map page;   calculating the positional boundaries of said map page, using said internal window, available for adding a subsequent map point to said map page;   deriving the centerpoint of said map page from said map point; and   defining the centerpoint of said map page as the said latitude and said longitude of said map point.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein said map page further includes a plurality of said map pages, said step of centering said map page further comprising the steps, for each of said subsequent map points, of: determining if said subsequent map point can be added to said map page;   responsive to the determination, by said step of determining if said map point can be added to said map page, that a subsequent map point can be added to said map page, including said subsequent map point on said map page and recalculating said internal window centered on the midpoint between the latitudinal and longitudinal extremes of all the map points associated with said map page;   responsive to the determination, by said step of determining if said map point can be added to said map page, that said subsequent map point cannot be added to said map page, determining if said subsequent map point can be added to any previously defined map pages of said plurality of map pages;   responsive to the determination, by said step of determining if said subsequent map point can be added to any previously defined map pages, that said subsequent map point can be added to at least one of said previously defined map pages, including said subsequent map point on said one of said previously defined map pages and recalculating said internal window of said one of said previously defined map pages centered on the midpoint between the latitudinal and longitudinal extremes of all the map points associated with said map page; and   responsive to the determination, by said step of determining if said subsequent map point can be added to any previously defined map pages, that said subsequent map point cannot be added to at least one of said previously defined map pages, creating a subsequent map page, defining the centerpoint of said subsequent map page as said latitude and said longitude of said subsequent map point, and calculating the internal window of said subsequent map page centered on said subsequent map point.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, wherein said plurality of map pages further comprises a series of maps of decreasing scale, said series of maps including at least one each of a general map of small scale, an area map of intermediate scale, and a detail map of large scale, wherein said step of centering said map page around said map point further comprises the steps of: defining a first alternate map point for display on said area map, said first alternate map point comprising the outline of said detail map; and   defining a second alternate map point for display on said general map, said second alternate map point comprising the outline of said area map.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein said plurality of map pages further comprises a cover page summarizing information represented on said map. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of generating an internal window further comprises the steps of: defining said map page size; and   defining a border buffer for said map page, said border buffer for defining a portion of said map page which, while displayed, contains none of said map points.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of creating said map page further comprises the steps of: calculating the scale of said map page;   drawing said map page, displaying thereon said map point; and labeling said map page.   
     
     
       11. A method for dynamically creating a document containing information of interest to a remote user and in response to a remote user's electronic request and for transmitting the dynamically created document to the user via facsimile transmission, the method comprising the steps of: electronically maintaining at least one database containing information of interest to a user,   receiving as a set of electronic signals via a data communications link a remote user's request for information on specific items of information contained in said database;   comparing the user's request with the information stored in the database;   selecting items of information which most closely approximate the user's request;   dynamically creating a uniquely tailored document such that the structure, composition, organization and appearance of the uniquely tailored document is determined as a result of the amount and type of items of information that are selected from the database, the uniquely tailored document created in a file format which supports sophisticated text characteristics and complete graphical flexibility;   converting the dynamically created document into a format suitable for facsimile transmission; and   transmitting the converted document via facsimile to the remote user.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of electronic signals comprise DTMF telephonic signals, and wherein the method further includes: generating prerecorded voice message prompts in response to the DTMF telephonic signals for playback to the remote user in order to prompt the remote user to transmit additional DTMF signals defining parameters of the request.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11, wherein each set of electronic signals represents an electronic message that is generated by a user on a remote computer network, and wherein the method further includes: periodically accessing the remote computer network and retrieving electronic messages corresponding to requests for items of information contained in the database.   
     
     
       14. A method for dynamically creating a document containing information of interest to a remote user and in response to a remote user's electronic request and for transmitting the dynamically created document to the user via facsimile transmission, the method comprising the steps of: electronically maintaining at least one database containing information of interest to a remote user;   receiving as a set of electronic signals via a data communications link a remote user's request for information on specific items of information contained in said database;   comparing the user's request with the information stored in the database;   selecting items of information which most closely approximate the user's request;   dynamically creating a uniquely tailored document such that the structure, composition, organization and appearance of the uniquely tailored document is determined as a result of the amount and type of items of information that are selected from the database, the uniquely tailored document created in a file format which supports sophisticated text characteristics and complete graphical flexibility, and wherein the dynamic creation of the uniquely tailored document further comprises: sorting the selected items of information into a first sequence most appropriate for presentation to the user;   creating a textual representation of the first sequence;   converting the selected items of information into information required for a pictorial or visual interpretation of the selected items of information;   sorting the converted information into a second sequence most appropriate for presentation to the user;   creating a graphical representation of the second sequence; and   storing the textual representation and the graphical representation as a first unique file having a format that supports sophisticated text characteristics and complete graphical flexibility;     converting the dynamically created document into a format suitable for facsimile transmission; and   transmitting the converted document via facsimile to the user.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein the conversion of the dynamically created document into a format suitable for facsimile transmission further comprises: converting the first unique file from a file format supporting sophisticated text characteristics and complete graphical flexibility into a file format suitable for facsimile transmission;   storing the converted first unique file as a second unique file; and   deleting the first unique file.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmission of said converted document via facsimile to the user further comprises: monitoring the transmission process for successful or unsuccessful completion;   responsive to the determination that the transmission process was unsuccessful, making at least one additional attempt to transmit the converted document; and   responsive to the determination that the transmission process was either successful or all attempts were unsuccessful, deleting the converted document stored as the second unique file.